According to the News & Observer, Simpson was found unconscious on August 11 and was rushed to a local hospital. It was unknown what caused Simpson to fall into a coma, but he was quickly placed in a medically induced coma with the hope that he would eventually stabilize and be taken out.

Now, with the quarterback gone, the support and attention that Simpson’s Independence teammates hoped to drive to his recovery will instead serve as part of a memorial to his talent and, perhaps, the framework of his legacy.